The Misesian Sights: An Austrian Visits Vienna
Ben Powell was in Vienna on a combined "work" and play trip, but his inner nerd broke out a folded up printout of the Mises.org "Misesian Must-See Places in Vienna" and the quest began. What follows should help other "Austrians" find the Misesian sights in Vienna. FULL ARTICLE
Comments (2)
For those who haven't been to the Hapsburg capital, I recommend it highly, even for those who (like me) tend to dislike large cities. This city reminds me of Paris in its charm. Note in the article that for every officious, unhelpful Viennese (in government employ) the author encountered, he encountered another Viennese who was warm, welcoming, and eager to practice his English on you.
My mother's (1911) birthplace is at Kenyongasse 9. The main thing to recommend it is that it's WELL out of the tourist areas.
Published: August 25, 2006 10:55 AM
Hi Ben,
It's a shame you missed the Burgtheater, though you may have seen it when you were at the University. On coming out of the main University doors, the Burgtheater is the beautiful cream colored building over the main street, back into the city, on your right.
It is covered in wonderful ornate cherubs and other classical decoration and is well worth perusing, over a Trocken Welschriesling, from the terrace of the Cafe Landtmann, which is situated between it and the University. I tried to find the Cafe Kunstler, another Misesian hangout (apparently), but couldn't find it. Though I suspect the name "Kunstler" is slightly unattractive to the Anglo-American tourist ear, so the Cafe Kunstler (Cafe of the Artist) has BECOME the Cafe Landtmann, perhaps now the Cafe of the Man from the Ministry of Land! ;-)
Like you too, I got lost trying to find the Mises.org plaque, but I must second your opinion that it is well worth spending a few minutes standing outside the site of the good Professor's old home, even if it is the wrong building. Being just a few yards down the road from the amazing St. Stephen's cathedral, you can almost feel the ripples of the History of Thought tumbling down the Strasse.
It's also an amazing thing to find the University plaques of Menger et al, even if they are covered in concrete dust and scaffolding. The only question I asked myself, when I was there recently, was where was the bust of Von Mises, surely the greatest and most heroic Austrian of them all? Perhaps we can persuade Messrs Tucker and Rockwell to petition Wien Universitaat to put one up alongside his three compatriots? :-)
Thank you for your article. It brought back some great memories.
Published: August 30, 2006 5:01 PM